Statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
Maria Zakharova on the Nord Stream attacks
Official Claims: Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia's Foreign Ministry, asserts that the complexity of the Nord Stream attacks indicates state involvement rather than the actions of non-state actors. This new data is cross-referenced with statements by the Swedish investigator Mats Ljungquist who mentioned that Russia, USA and pro Ukrainian non-state actors were excluded from several rounds as suspects, he also mentioned the behind was a single state actor with significant resources and knowledge.
Company Involvement: The British firm Optima Defence and Security Group Ltd., linked to the British Ministry of Defence, was involved in deep-sea research near the explosion sites prior to the attacks.
Allegations of Terrorism: Russia contends that this evidence supports claims of Western states' participation in international terrorism.
Hypocrisy of the West: The refusal of Western powers to officially label the incident as terrorism is characterized as hypocritical by Russian officials.
Commitment to Accountability: Russia has stated its intention to pursue those responsible for the attacks actively.
Legal Significance: The author notes the importance of the legal interpretation of the event, underlining its broader implications.
As time goes by, it becomes increasingly clear that a single or even multiple non-state actors would simply not have been able to carry out acts of sabotage and attacks of this magnitude, let alone private individuals posing as "Ukrainian divers". Such a complicated operation, involving diving to considerable depths and the use of military-grade explosives, would require significant resources and specific equipment that only sovereign states can possess, and which are also likely to have access to the technical documentation of the Nord Stream pipelines.
[MRT: The statement that it was a: single state actor in all cases, that it had significant resources was confirmed by mats Ljungquist in SWE investigation statements to public here. Note that he also singled out Russia, USA and pro-Ukrainian groups.]
According to available information, a British company "Optima Defence and Security Group Ltd.", which specializes in explosives technology and clearance, which is about to be liquidated, carried out deep-sea research work near the Ertholmene archipelago and the island of Bornholm in the Danish exclusive economic zone in August and September 2022, i.e. immediately before the explosions of the Nord Stream gas pipelines.
[MRT: Note that Dutch, USA and Russian assets were checking the area in early September:
This British "shop" was one of the contractors of the British Ministry of Defense, the Navy and the Royal Marines and was led by former high-ranking British army officers. Its employees have gained rich experience in many conflict zones in Africa or the Middle East.
[MRT: What is the chance that Germany knew some details about the planned mission? -German fleet tracker wk37 and wk38 in Baltic sea]
The mentioned facts are considered further evidence of the involvement of Western states in the explosions of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, i.e. in the act of international terrorism.
Against this background, the attempts of the collective West to evade responsibility for this sabotage, this terrorist attack on the critical cross-border energy infrastructure, appear all the more hypocritical, cynical, barbaric and monstrous.
On October 4, 2024, at a UN Security Council briefing convened by the Russian Federation specifically on this issue, we had to announce that we would not pursue our plan to submit a draft resolution because the West refuses to agree to the proposed wording of the draft resolution. It is striking that the USA and its accomplices are persistently opposed to including the word "terrorism" in any form (terrorism, terrorist attack, terrorist) in the draft. At the same time, in a speech to voters on September 14, 2024, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz directly referred to the terrorist nature of this crime.
In any case, the destructive actions of the Western "camp" have not affected our plans and determination to fight for justice. We are convinced that everyone - perpetrators, sponsors, contractors, "transitory accomplices" and "intermediaries" of all stripes - who were involved in this terrorist attack with its serious economic and environmental consequences must be held accountable. Russia will continue to work to keep this important issue on the agenda of the UN Security Council and the international community.